Between May 1 and September 2, 2026, health authorities identified 20 imported cases of chikungunya in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of France, according to data released by the Agence régionale de santé (ARS) Nouvelle-Aquitaine. The figure marks a significant drop compared to the previous year, when 144 imported cases were recorded by late August 2025, according to regional health bulletins cited by actu.fr.
Geographic Distribution and Travel History
Most of the 20 imported chikungunya cases identified in 2026 were concentrated in the Gironde department, with a single case reported in Deux-Sèvres, according to ARS Nouvelle-Aquitaine. Health officials state that the infected individuals had recently traveled to French overseas departments and regions. During the heavier transmission season in 2025, by comparison, 144 imported chikungunya cases and 106 imported dengue cases were logged across the region, with the vast majority of travelers returning from Réunion, Mauritius, Madagascar, Mayotte, Martinique, Guadeloupe, and French Polynesia, as reported by actu.fr.
Favorable Seasonal Context and Vector Control
The lower case counts stem from a more favorable epidemiological context at the start of the season, according to Karim Tararbit, a health-watch physician with ARS Nouvelle-Aquitaine. Tararbit noted that viral circulation was notably lower in the Indian Ocean region heading into 2026, resulting in about 15 imported dengue cases in Nouvelle-Aquitaine early in the season, compared to roughly 100 at the same time in 2025. To prevent the establishment of local transmission cycles, ARS Nouvelle-Aquitaine routinely coordinates targeted mosquito-control operations from May through November in areas colonized by the tiger mosquito (Aedes albopictus), which is established across every department in the region except Creuse.
